Pittwater Online News

June 1 - 30, 2025: Issue 643

Play Footy! Time: June 2025 - at Lake Park, North Narrabeen + Hitchcock Park, North Avalon Beach

Includes: Manly Brothers Vs. Guildford at Lake Park June 15 2025; Narrabeen Open (A Grade) Vs Avalon A Grade at Lake Park Narrabeen June 15 2025; Avalon Bulldogs U16 Girls Vs. Belrose + Avalon Bulldogs A Grade Vs Waitara at Hitchcock June 21 2025 and Friendly's 50 Year Coaching Littlies Celebration

photos by A J Guesdon

Residents aged 4 up to those in their early 80's in Juniors to Masters age divisions are currently having a great time playing rugby league as part of the Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League competition.

The Aims & Goals of the Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League are:

To foster and manage Junior Rugby League Football throughout the Northern Beaches Local Government area in accordance with all rules, regulations and the laws of the game as laid down or determined from time to time by the MWDJRL Inc or such higher authority
To promote, encourage, advance and develop Junior League within the area as determined above
To adjudicate on all disputes and difficulties between affiliated clubs within the District, or between individual members of any such affiliated club
To obtain improved facilities and playing areas
To promote skill development and ensure that all coaches, sports trainers and referees are fully accredited before they can officiate at games in our area
To advance the interests of the Clubs within the District and to support the Manly Warringah District Rugby League Football Club Limited
To explore sponsorship opportunities that will benefit and promote the playing of junior league

Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2022.

In recent weeks PON staff have manged to get a few photos of games taking place, including those at Lake Park in North Narrabeen and Hitchcock Park at North Avalon. These remind us all that community is the winner when people come together to take part in local sports or turn up to cheer their family and friends on.

On Sunday June 15 Manly Brothers were playing the Guildford Owls prior to the A Grade game taking place. A huge crowd of around a thousand, of North Narrabeen, Avalon, Manly and Waitara supporters converged on the oval beside the lagoon to enjoy some action. The following weekend, late afternoon and Saturday night games lit up Hitchcock Park at North Avalon - the occasion also taken as an opportunity to celebrate Brian Friend's 50 years of coaching little ones, with another thousand supporters and visitors all around the park. Friendly will celebrate 60 years with the Avalon Bulldogs next year, which, considering the club commenced in 1962, means h has been doing all he can for just about the whole time the doggies have been part of the Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League.

Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby attended celebrations, presenting Friendly with a framed copy of her Community Recognition Statement to his 50 Years of Coaching youngsters, as tabled in the New South Wales Parliament.

More in: Avalon Bulldogs Celebrate 50 Years of Friendly Coaching Youngsters

A few insights into those clubs photographed and some pics run below.

Manly Brothers Rugby League Club

The Manly Brothers Rugby League Club was first formed as a football team in 1934. Christian Brothers College Manly (now St. Pauls) formed a football team in 1934 for the Old Boys of the school. It was based on the cricket team which had been playing for some years. Brother Gygar one of the teachers at the school was the chief instigator and mentor for the new club. Very few of the original team are still living and accordingly it has been difficult to discover exactly when the team was formalised as a club.

The club played Rugby Union until 1942 during which time it won many competitions and were state junior champions in 1938. In 1943 the switch was made to Rugby League and Brothers won the U16 competition in 1943 and 1944. Reub Hudson the former President of Manly Warringah Football Club was a member of these sides and our teams regularly play games at the Reub Hudson fields to this day.

In 1944 and 1945 a significant number of our players (about half the team) played in the first ever Manly team which won the Presidents Cup in 1946. As a result of that success Manly (now the Sea Eagles) then entered the senior competition in 1947. The other half of that successful team was made up of neighbouring Freshwater players who wore maroon and white (as still worn by Freshwater Surf Club) and which is the historical origin of the current Sea Eagles NRL team colours.

Brother’s sides were outfitted in cerise and blue. These colours were chosen by Leo Worthington whose father had attended St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill (or Joeys as it is known to many) with Joeys having now competed in cerise and blue very successfully in the GPS rugby competitions for over 100 years. This link to rugby union is evident in the club badge which was designed by Leo Worthingtons brother, Tony and which was based on the Manly Rugby Union Club badge.

Over the years Brothers have won almost every competition and trophy in Junior League. In 1958 the club won its first premiership (since the early success of 1947).

The club has grown over the years to provide a place:

For children through to adults, to take part in sport for fitness and health.
To build treasured memories and friendships for life.
To build a fun community for the families involved.
As a feeder club to the Manly Sea Eagles for those with professional ambitions.

North Narrabeen JRLFC - the Sharks

North Narrabeen JRLFC - the Sharks was established in 1932 and in 2022 celebrated 90 years of the club’s history.

See 2022 PON Profile: Narrabeen JRLFC's 90th Celebratory History A Shark’s Tale Book Launch Featured A Legends Q&A With Alan Thompson, Anthony Watmough, Mark Gerrard, Anthony Balkin

The 90th Anniversary dinner was held at Dee Why RSL with over 200 guests in attendance and a fantastic evening was had by all.

Since their humble beginnings in Jack McLean’s barber shop, the Narrabeen Sharks have grown exponentially. In the 2025 Season the Sharks have over 300 registered players across 27 teams, including 9 Blue Tag teams, and thousands of supporters.

Narrabeen has a core group of tireless committee members who volunteer their time to keeping the club running smoothly each year.

Their team of coaches, managers, and trainers guide and develop players in what it means to be a Sharkie and who help uphold the core values of the club.

The club, alike all community spots clubs, relies on community sponsors, ''we couldn’t run our club as efficiently as we do without you''.

The Sharks Opens team (A Grade), and a few more insights, run as Profile this Issue; so more celebrations on a great North Narrabeen collective, community and one of its core organisations.

Avalon Bulldogs Junior Rugby League Club

The Avalon Bulldogs Junior Rugby League Football Club is a family friendly club with teams from Under 6's through to U18 which welcomes players of all ages to join the club and become part of the Doggies family. The club has over 60 years of heritage, commencing in the Manly Warringah District Junior Rugby League in 1962.

The club is a much-loved asset to the community with a large following of passionate supporters. The junior division and touch football competition attracts 950 players annually. Home games are played at Hitchcock Park every other Saturday from April to August. And touch footy games on a Friday night are THE place to be socially for around 700 families from toddlers to grandparents between October and December.

The organisation is completely committed to providing a fun and healthy environment for families to come together and get active. We follow in the NRL values of Excellence, Inclusiveness, Courage, and Teamwork. From the youngest players at four years old to the team of 100 volunteers who give hours of their time to the club for the love of the game, the commitment is impressive. In the eyes of the youngsters, the club is the best thing since sliced bread. They wear their training shirts proudly everywhere they go!

The Bulldogs encourage players of all ages and abilities from Newport to Palm Beach to join the club and participate in the local Manly Warringah Junior Rugby League competition. If you would like to join as a player or volunteer at our club, please contact them today. The Doggies look forward to welcoming you and your family.

Manly Brothers Vs. Guildford Owls U17's - 2025 Metro Combined Under 17 Gold, Lake Park, North Narrabeen on June 15, 2025

Narrabeen Sharks Opens (A Grade) vs. Avalon Bulldogs Opens (A Grade); at Lake Park, North Narrabeen, Sunday June 15 2025

Minutes Silence to honour the passing of Life Member Jeff Foster's mother.

Life Members Doug Miller, George Aprile, John Rousell and Jeff Foster at Sharks Launch of 90th Anniversary Book ‘A Shark’s Tale’ 25th June 2023. Photo: A J Guesdon